Waking up early in the morning is no easy task for anyone these days. Not to mention the wonderful winter weather which pleads for everyone to hit the alarm, pull the covers back over our heads, and fall back to sleep. But if you have to get up early then why not make it a worthwhile event. Instead of spending another sleep filled day locked in your room why not try to be a little more adventurous and explore the Winter Park area?

For those of you that have spent many days skiing down the icy hills in the east, this will be some of the greatest skiing that you have experienced. Fresh powder fills these mountainous resorts, just in time for the weekend, when many people flock to the mountains.

Now for those of you that have had no experience with skiing whatsoever, there are also beginner slopes perfect for you. Starting in the beginning, if you find yourself sliding down the powder filled slopes rather than skiing, you might like to try Sol Vista. Sol Vista currently has four lifts open, with 27 trails, 14 of which are easy trails. Riding the lifts to the 9,202 foot summit, you will also find an array of intermediate and challenging trails.

Perhaps you are not interested in skiing, but merely being out in the elements. Sol Vista also offers snowmobiling and sleigh rides, so weither you prefer sliding down the mountain on your backside, or riding down it in a snowmobile or sleigh there is something for you.

Now for those more experienced skiers, Berthoud Pass is filled with guided skiing down some of Colorado’s most glorious natural wonders. The price is on the more expensive side providing meals as well as ski demos, and guided instruction. So, if skiing both the front and back sides of mountains is for you, not to mention the hiking in between, then try out this wonderful terrain.

And then there’s Winter Park itself. This resort, with 112 open trails, and 18 operating lifts, and a 10,700 foot summit cover’s a great deal of mountain. Without a season pass you can expect to pay between 35 and 56 dollars per day, depending on the time of the season you wish to enjoy the majestic outdoors. If you haven’t recently purchased a pair of skies or snowboard, then renting would be the way to go for you. At the resort, you can be expected to play between 15 and 31 dollars, for as little as half of a day, to 3 days. Of course you could always find a fake id saying that you’re either over 70 years old, or younger than 5 years old to get in free. Winter Park even has a ski train for those who are reluctant to drive their car into the mountains.

If Winter Park isn’t big enough for you, why not try the other side of the mountain; Mary Jane. These wondrous resorts are just 67miles (108km) from Denver. This amazing display of powder filled runs with a 12,060 foot summit will spice up your life to no end. This resort holds 2,286 skiable acres, and not only are they skiable, but 60 percent of the runs are at the difficult level, meaning you must be able to ski reasonably well if you don’t wish to make one run turn into an all day experience.

So whether you prefer tubing down a hill (like they have at Fraser), Cross Country skiing at Devil’s Thumb (along with sleigh rides), snowmobiling, guided tours, or night skiing (which is available at Sol Vista), the mountains around Winter Park are for you.